Students and teachers across Alaska have a new tool to use when studying the effects of wild fire on boreal forests and tundra. The first major revision of the "Role of Fire in Alaska" curriculum, originally made available to educators in 1992, can now be accessed online. The materials are designed to teach Alaskans about the effects (both negative and positive) of wild fire on boreal and tundra ecosystems, and about fire management, using a combination of classroom study and outdoor activities.
In addition to now being available in digital format and incorporating much new and updated material, the curriculum was specifically revised to provide information teachers need to more easily incorporate the course work into their classroom schedules. Each lesson now describes the Alaska State Content Standards and specific skills addressed, and individual lessons are keyed to grade levels. The curriculum is divided into three major units:
Unit I concerns boreal forest and tundra ecology, providing information on how these Alaska ecosystems function. The lessons are designed to guide students as they explore their environment and to help them better understand such concepts as vegetation succession and the sometimes complex interrelationships between wildlife and habitat.
The second unit focuses on the way fire affects Alaska
